"Larry, we're not electing the fucking Pope here. Just tell me who won."

ELECTION

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: Reese Witherspoon plays over-achieving student Tracey Flick in this sharply black teen comedy. Tracey is determined to win her high-school election and become student body president, at whatever the cost. Her teacher Jim McCallister (Broderick) doesn't like Tracey, and so tries to sabotage her efforts in any way he can - be it convincing super-Jock Paul Metzler to run for president too, or by simply doctoring the vote . . . but whatever he tries, Tracey seems to be one step ahead . . .

There's no other way to talk about this film than to talk about the comedy, as that's what it is pure and simple. There's no extravagant camerawork, no sweeping score etc - it's not that kind of film. It's based on the novel by Tom Perrotta and it's a biting look at the politics of  a small-town high school election. There are some brilliant moments, particularly the triangle between Paul the jock, his lesbian sister Tammy and her girlfriend Lisa, and McCallister is a wonderfully flawed character as he sets out to destroy Tracey's dreams but ends up destroying his own life in the process. Witherspoon and Broderick provide two top-notch performances: Tracey is both wonderfully endearing yet incredibly annoying at the same time, whilst McCallister is funny because he's so cringe-worthy. This is the kind of film where you have to look out for the little things and stuff that goes on in the background, which would be hard to try and describe here, but trust me this film is really funny and worth a watch, if just for McCallister throwing his drink at Tracey's car at the end!    

"How do you kill a man without fear?"

DAREDEVIL

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clark Duncan and Colin Farrell

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: Daredevil failed to light up the British box office, possibly because it's 15 rating didn't allow the hordes of kids in to see it, but nevertheless it's a brilliantly dark tale adapted from the Marvel comic. As a child Matt Murdock is blinded in an accident; his other senses become incredibly acute particularly his hearing, which gives him a kind of radar-vision allowing him to "see" sound. After witnessing (so to speak) the murder of his father, he makes a vow to keep his father's advice never to be afraid and begins his training. Now an adult, by day Matt is a lawyer but by night he is Daredevil, prowling the streets for criminals to dispense justice to. When he meets and falls in love with Elektra Natchios, he doesn't realise that she and her family are marked for death by the Kingpin, who controls all the crime in New York, and so his already tortured world is about to be turned upside down once again . . .

Daredevil is unlike other super-hero films of late (Spider-Man, X-Men, Hulk etc) as the world it presents is a very bleak one. Murdock is almost an anti-hero, as throughout he is forced to consider whether his brand of justice is correct and he is tortured by the idea that he has become one of the bad guys he seeks to punish. This is also much more violent than other films of the genre; bones break and blood sprays but given the nature of the story this level of violence suits perfectly. Acting is top-notch all round: Affleck succeeds in bringing across the tortured soul of Murdock, and Garner is well-suited for the role of Elektra - the sight of her in leather with a pair of sais is very nice indeed. Clark Duncan is pure comedy as the Kingpin (his introduction speaks for itself!) and Farrell's Bullseye steals the film easily, dispensing brilliant lines and impressive kills with the unnerving accuracy of this throws. The film does suffer from the odd bout of bad CGI (such as the fight between Daredevil and Bullseye on the church organ) but it is mostly stunning to look at, with some lovely camerawork and impressive night time settings. The CG used for the "radar-vision" is particularly impressive. Daredevil is a moody and dark vision of a superhero film - brilliant stuff, but definitely not for kids.    

"Just out of curiosity, do we have a plan B?"

TITAN A.E.

Starring: (voices) Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Bill Pullman, John Leguizamo, Janeane Garafolo

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: This animated film really flopped at the box office but it didn't deserve to. In the year 3028 an evil alien race called the Drej destroy Earth, forcing the human race to abandon the planet. 15 years later and humans have scattered across the galaxy and been hunted down by the Drej, facing extinction. However a young man named Cale (Damon) has a genetically-encoded map in his hand that leads to the Titan - a ship piloted away from Earth by his father, that has the power to create a new planet for humans to live on. However the Drej are also aware of this and set out to gain the location of the Titan from Cale and destroy it, thus securing the doom of the human race. Cale joins forces with the crew of the Valkyrie and sets out to stop them!

This film is a real treat for the eyes, using an interesting mix of computer-generated backgrounds and hand-drawn character animation - the Earth's explosion at the beginning is particularly stunning. The plot is typically sci-fi but I one for one found it a refreshing difference from the usual fare; whilst the film is undoubtedly aimed at children it also asks the question of what good the human race has accomplished and provokes fear as the reason for the Drej's hatred of humanity is never revealed. There are many touches of humour and comedy and also (predictably) a love element with Drew Barrymore's character Akima (who's quite sexy for a cartoon character, but maybe it's just Drew's voice...). The other characters are funny and engaging and some top voice talent is on offer here (listen out for Leguizamo's character Gune shouting "Who's your daddy!"). The music is also worth mentioning (so good I bought the soundtrack) but best of all the film was co-written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, whose influences on the film are there for fans of his to recognise. I heartily recommend this to everyone.   

"Little brothers."

SPY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS

Starring: Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino and Steve Buscemi

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: Being a huge fan of the original Spy Kids I eagerly awaited this at the cinema last year, and I'd been eagerly awaiting it on DVD ever since!  Carmen and Juni Cortez are now level 2 agents in the Spy Kids division of the OSS, and are competing with spy-rivals Gary and Gertie Giggles (which isn't helped by Carmen having a crush on Gary). Juni gets fired after inadvertantly letting a prototype of the Transmooker device be stolen, but Carmen uses her hacking skills to re-instate him and get them the mission given to Gary and Gertie - to investigate a mysterious island that appears on no maps, which is home to mad scientist Romero (Buscemi) and his assortment of giant cross-breeded animals, and also the real Transmooker device - which can shut down all the technology in the world! Carmen and Juni have to retrieve the device before their evil boss Donnagan Giggles can, and before their frantically-searching parents find them!

If you've seen the first film then you'll know exactly what to expect from this the sequel, and I'm happy to report that it maintains the same levels of humour, fun and craziness that made the first film so special. Without the need to introduce the characters director Rodriguez is able to jump us straight into the action with his unique style. So much happens in this film that the pace rarely lets up, and you have to watch out for so much funny stuff happening in the background that you may want to have a repeat viewing! Despite the success of the first film Rodriguez was still limited to a small budget for this one, but the special effects he pulls off are remarkable and give the film it's trademark style. Although Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino are given top billing in the credits and do a fine job as Gregorio and Ingrid once again (particularly several slapstick moments from Banderas which show he has an eye for comedy), it's really Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara who dominate the film as Carmen and Juni and prove that even at a young age they're fine actors (I predict us seeing a lot more of Alexa as she grows up). Hats must also go off to Rodriguez, who not only directed but also wrote, edited, produced, directed photography, did production design AND scored the film! All in all a wonderfully fun experience that should delight fans of the original and convert newcomers too.  

"Look out that window. Eden isn't burning - it's burnt!"

REIGN OF FIRE

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Izabella Scorupco

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: This is one of those films where the poster and trailer made expectations high, but sadly for most people it failed to live up to most of those expectations - I was one of the small number who actually enjoyed it though! Set in the not too distant future (about 2020AD) a tunnelling project underneath London uncovers a dragon that has slept for centuries. A young Quinn watches his mother die as the dragon escapes, and then we fast forward about twenty years: the dragons have multiplied and laid waste to the Earth, decimating the population. Quinn (Bale) leads one of the last pockets of resistance in England, who has to deal with the arrival of Van Zan (McConaughey), leader of a group of American militia intent on destroying the male dragon for once and all...

The reason this film failed at the box office was that it promised too much - audiences went in expecting non-stop battles against the dragons and were left disappointed. Yes there are some good action sequences in this film, but they're few and far between as the story tries to capture the plight of the surviving humans as well rather than go for all-action. When we do see the dragons the scenes are fantastic, with some excellent CG, and the final showdown with the male dragon amongst the ruins of Parliament is brilliant. Some of the acting is rather dodgy (Izabella Scorupco, I'm looking at you) but Bale stands up well and I can level no criticism at McConaughey, whose character Van Zan is a creation of genius. Truly a nutter, he dominates the screen and the film with a fantastic performance and his final jump against the male dragon, swinging his axe and yelling, is one of the most unintentionally funny things I've ever seen. Don't let the plot or lack of constant action put you off - this is a brainless thrill ride. 

"What if you could go back in time, and take away all those hours of pain and darkness and replace them with something better?"

DONNIE DARKO

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: I'd heard the hype about this film but sadly never got the chance to watch it in the cinema. After buying it on DVD today I can honestly say it's one of the best films I've ever seen - I was completely blown away by it. This is a very complex, dark, funny and moving film, and I loved every minute of it. I'll try to give a rough outline of the plot without spoiling it for those who haven't seen the film: in 1988 Donnie Darko (Gyllenhaal) is a troubled teen plagued by visions of a demonic rabbit named Frank, who foretells the end of the world to Donnie and compels him to commit acts of violence. The arrival of his soul-mate Gretchen brings light to Donnie's depressed world, but he still has to figure out what time travel has to do with the strange things going on in his life before Frank completely claims his sanity...

Shot on a small budget of $4million, this is a remarkable accomplishment of filmmaking. Debut director Richard Kelly takes an intriguing and often brain-melting plot and presents it in a fascinating package. Brilliantly acted from all players, the stand-out is obviously Gyllenhaal as Donnie who delivers a remarkable performance, however I was also impressed with Jena Malone's Gretchen who brought a tenderness to the film and complemented Donnie's character well. Some may find the plot too confusing; for those I suggest a repeat viewing. This film blends many genres of sci-fi, teen movie, horror and black comedy into a often puzzling but always captivating story. The film is wonderfully shot with some intriguing camerawork, and the sparingly-used special effects do their job well. This film is a testament to the quality of motion pictures that can be achieved on such a small budget. This has gone straight into my top ten, and I dare say it'll enter yours too. 

"So . . . what are we doing for New Years?"

GO

Starring: Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, William Fichtner, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf, Taye Diggs, Breckin Meyer

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: Go is a very interesting and eye-opening film right from the beginning. It's basically 3 tales in one, which all overlap each other. Set on Christmas Eve, we first have Ronna's tale as she embarks on her first drug deal in order to pay the rent - which doesn't exactly go to plan. Then we have Simon and Marcus, who go on a road trip to LA and end up on the run from some dangerous strip-club bouncers. Finally we have Adam and Zack, gay stars of a TV soap opera who get caught up in a rather unsual Christmas dinner.

All three of the stories intertwine and the characters cross over from one to the other, effecting events, and it's this method of narrative that makes the film so interesting. Luckily the rest of the movie is up to scratch, and then some - loads of black humour, sharp dialogue, excellent performances from a fantastic ensemble cast (I was particularly impressed by Sarah Polley's Ronna) and a genuinely entertaining trio of plotlines. There's very little to find fault with in this film, it's a worthy addition to anyone's collection. Watch out for drug dealer Todd (played by Timothy Olyphant) who very nearly steals the film with his Santa hat and rather cool way of answering his cell phone - "Speak". 

"This is a free country, you can be a communist if you want to be a communist!"

THE MAJESTIC

Starring: Jim Carrey, Laurie Holden, Martin Landau

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: Set in 1951, Jim Carrey plays Peter Appleton, a promising Hollywood screenwriter. He becomes blacklisted after the FBI discover he attended a communist meeting in college and so gets drunk and goes for a drive at night . . . he crashes off a bridge and wakes up near the small coastal town of Lawson, suffering from amnesia. The locals mistake him for Luke Trimble, a missing-in-action war hero with whom he shares a remarkable resemblance, and Peter unwittingly accepts Luke's life. He helps his "father" rebuild their cinema, the Majestic, and romances Luke's long-waiting love Adele - but the FBI are hot on Peter's trail, and his memories are slowly returning . . .

This film was severely slated by most film magazines but I for one really liked it - I'm a fan of Frank Darabont's films anyway (Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile). The film is slow-paced and lengthy at almost 2 and a half hours, and this is probably what put a lot of people off. However the story is enjoyable and quite moving, and Carrey delivers a performance up there with The Truman Show and Man On The Moon. I've always maintained that Carrey is understated as a serious actor, and this film is another example of the man's talent. Although the cinematography is nothing new the film is gorgeous to look at, and it delivers a serious message about personal freedom and courage. Watch out for the sections of Peter's film Sand Pirates of the Sahara (included in full on the DVD) which features Bruce Campbell in a cameo role as Roland the Intrepid Explorer, who delivers the immortal line "Taste my steel you dog!"    

"Oh my God! I'm a Trend Pimp!"

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS

Starring: Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Alan Cumming and Parker Posey

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: This film was a flop at the cinema but it didn't deserve to be! Based on characters in the American Archie comics, it's a satirical comedy about the pop-music industry. Josie, Valerie and Melody live in Riverdale and make up a band called The Pussycats, who dream of being pop stars but are stuck playing gigs at bowling alleys where nobody is listening. Enter Wyatt, an agent of MegaRecords who's on the lookout for a new band and signs them up . . . but the Pussycats are unaware of the subliminal messages that Wyatt and MegaRecords boss Fiona hide in their lyrics, which they use to control the trends and lives of the teenagers of America. As Josie is catapulted into the limelight will the pussycats be able to recover their friendship? Will they be able to stop MegaRecords? Will Josie win the heart of Alan M (the sexiest guy in Riverdale?) Of course!

This is a hysterical film from start to finish. Even though this isn't the kind of film that's aiming to achieve Oscars the performances are all excellent: Rachael Leigh Cook is a delight as Josie, Tara Reid is wonderfully funny as ditzy Melody, as are Alan Cumming and Parker Posey as Wyatt and Fiona. Be sure to keep your eyes on Alexander and Alexandra too, who often steal scenes from the others with their humour. Although this is unashamedly satirical it does sometimes get a bit over-the-top, for example the incessant amounts of product placing gets annoying after a while, but it doesn't stop the enjoyment of the film. The soundtrack is excellent (Josie's voice is provided by the singer of Letters To Cleo) and overall this is a very enjoyable film which deserves a viewing. The best part by far, however, is the film's opening which features Dujour, the boy band Wyatt is managing . . . two of them are played by Seth Green and Breckin Meyer (in cameo roles) and they very nearly manage to steal the entire film, particularly with their rendition of "Backdoor Lover" . . . 

"You're beautiful to me because you're human. Your frailty. Your short years. Your heart. All that suddenly seems more precious than anything I've ever known."

QUEEN OF THE DAMNED

Starring: Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Perez

Ben The Slayer REVIEWS: Queen of the Damned is the sequel to Interview With The Vampire, again based on the novel by Anne Rice, but this time Lestat takes centre stage, quite literally. It's the present day and Lestat has grown bored of vampire life; he has slept for decades until the sound of heavy metal music awakens and revitalises him. Lestat forms a band and sets out to become a rock star, and in the process breaks the code of the vampire nation and reveals his identity as a vampire to the world. As Lestat plans a huge concert in Death Valley many vampires flock there to destroy him, but there is a bigger danger: Lestat's music has awakened Akasha, the sleeping Queen of the vampires, and she is determined to have Lestat as her new King, even if it means killing every other vampire to get him. 

Now, I loved Interview With The Vampire and the fact that this was low-budget and didn't feature any of the original cast/director etc had me worried, and whilst it won't be to everyone's liking I certainly enjoyed this film. Townsend does an excellent job as Lestat; he obviously isn't Tom Cruise but then again this is a different Lestat from the original. The story remains quite faithful to to book and even for its low-budget the special effects are quite good. Drafting in metal-God and KoRn frontman Jonathan Davis to provide Lestat's voice was a stroke of genius; his songs are probably the best part of the film. If you liked the original film then you'll like this, if you didn't then you won't. It's as simple as that.